AT&T Bloatware: Getting better with Windows Phone 7?

While some may not like the controls Microsoft has put in place with Windows Phone 7, there is 1 positive. Carrier bloatware or branded applications has been significantly reduced on the new Windows Phone.

With AT&T, the carrier software has been reduced to v applications on Windows Phone seven. No longer practice y'all have to worry with trial versions of Ms. Pac-man or banking software and best of all, what's installed tin be uninstalled.

We took a look at what AT&T has installed on thier Windows Phone seven devices and ease on past the break for an overview of the apps and to see what should stay or go.

Hither's how the AT&T pre-installed apps break down.

AT&T FamilyMap

FamilyMap from AT&T

We took a wait at AT&T FamilyMap when it was first introduced. We liked what we saw but it'south non for anybody. If yous don't accept family unit members to track down, you can uninstall this app and not miss it.

The service uses the phones aGPS or jail cell tower information and maps out the phones location within a few hundred yards. You tin locate family members from an online portal or straight from your Windows Phone past way of text messaging.

There is a gratuitous 30 twenty-four hours trial period and after that the service will run you $9.99 a month to locate 2 phone and $xiv.88 a month to locate upward to five phones.If yous have family unit members (eastward.thou. teenagers just starting to drive) that you may need to track down, it'due south worth a endeavor.

AT&T myWireless

myWireless from AT&T

This is a handy app that gives you admission to your AT&T myWireless account from your Windows Phone. Y'all can run into your minute remainder, payment remainder and how far forth you are in the billing cycle. You also have access to various support areas for AT&T.

If you have multiple lines on your account, y'all can monitor each line's use of data and voice minutes. I found the AT&T myWireless app to be a useful app worth keeping installed to help keep rails of my wireless usage.

AT&T Navigator

Navigator from AT&T

This has been a staple AT&T app for some time. Navigator gives you turn-by-turn directions and there is a xxx twenty-four hour period trial catamenia. After that, the directions will toll you $9.99 a calendar month unless you cancel the service before the thirty days expire.

Navigator does have real-time traffic monitoring and the ability to find local restaurants, gas stations, hotspots, etc. While Navigator is a nice service, in that location are plenty of free alternatives out at that place.. The thirty day trial menses is more enough time to let y'all make up one's mind if it's worth ten bucks a month. For me, I'll stick with BING (or apply my TomTom).

AT&T Radio

Don't mistake this for your Windows Telephone seven FM Radio. AT&T Radio is a subscription radio service through AT&T. In that location is a trial subscription and afterward that, AT&T Radio is strictly a pay to play application.

Subscriptions run $four.99 a month, which is inline with other radio service apps such as Slacker merely where Slacker offers a limited number of costless stations, AT&T does non. If AT&T Radio had a free version, I might consider keeping information technology. As is, it'due south on my uninstall listing.

AT&T U-verse Mobile

Uverse Mobile from AT&T

Another pay to play awarding from AT&T that streams tv set shows to your Windows Phone. There is a thirty day trial period available and after that y'all'll be charged $9.99 a month unless you cancel the business relationship.

The concept is dainty and a decent selection of shows but, everything I wanted to lookout man wasn't available for at least thirty days. If you have a Netflix business relationship, the Netflix app will run but as nicely (if not a little nicer).

It's worth checking out with the 30 day trial subscription (just don't forget to cancel). I tin meet the aqueduct selection appealing (heavy on family programing) to some but I'll stick with my Netflix.

Decision

AT&T bloatware on App List

The AT&T pre-installed apps (or bloatware) take improved. Gone are the trial versions of mediocre apps and you now notice apps that have better, across the board, functionality. The AT&T apps aren't for everyong and the toll can be prohibitive. Especially with alternatives out there for complimentary or lower cost.

If the AT&T apps don't entreatment to you, they can now be uninstalled. Personally, I'll keep myWireless and eventually add FamilyMap to keep tabs on my teenagers. There are enough alternatives to AT&T Radio, U-Verse Television, and Navigator that I'll uninstall them to free up a little space on my storage.

And I think that'southward the biggest comeback of all. If you don't like it, yous can get rid of information technology without any hard reset tricks, custom ROMs or other work arounds. Then, if yous change your listen, all you have to do is re-install the app from the AT&T App Middle located in the Market.

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